Life In Jordan

Living Costs

Jordan is a fairly good country for it's cost of living. On a normal working day an average person will need approx. 10$ to eat all 3 meals for good quality. Transportation by Taxi is very common due to it's cheapness, a 10KMs Taxi drive would cost around 2$, and of course by public transportation it would be much less. Hanging out, and night life is very active during the summer time, and you may enjoy very entertaining evenings for your taste for approx 10$ to eat and drink. As for our IAESTE students, your breakfast is covered at the hotel, and your evenings and in-city tours are all arranged by the IAESTE team for maximum pleasure, and least cost.

Weather

Jordan is known to have a Mediterranean climate, but since it has most of it's land covered in desert, the desert climate also affects the weather. During summer the day is usually hot with an average of 34C and at maximum 38C, and at night it gets below 30C and sometimes around 20C. You are best advised to always wear a warm top at night, and anything you like during the day. And if you are going through the desert for an adventure, be sure to carry some heavy jackets for the cold nights, and some very light clothes for the day. As for our IAESTE students, the dress code for our trips schedule will be sent to each one of you as the schedule gets approved. Feel free to contact us for questions about clothing and what to wear.

Transportation

Amman is a mountainous city with lots of hills and valleys where walking becomes a very tiring part of your day if you are used to it in your country, so to get around we have a very cheap Taxi transportation system, and also a well connected public transportation buses which connect the main areas together. The fees change every month due to the gas prices, so upon your arrival you will be handed out a leaflet explaining about the prices and the range during the summer period.

Currency and Coins

The local currency is the Jordanian Dinar (JD) which is equal to almost 1.4US Dollers, there are 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 JD notes. The Dinar is divided into 100 piasters (also called "qersh"). The piaster is the unit most commonly used and you will usually see prices written as 4,750 (which is 4 JD and 75 piasters or 4.75 JD. You can exchange your currency at the airport, or at any local money exchanger which are very common and you can find them along Queen Rania's Street (commonly known as the University of Jordan Street), where your hotel is also located. Credit cards are accepted at hotels, restaurants, and larger shops, including American Express, VISA, Diners Club, and MasterCard. Please note that many smaller shops still prefer cash payment in the Jordanian currency, and it is essential for shopping in the local souqs. The numbers of automated teller machines (ATMs) are fast increasing in Jordan. Banks are open Sun.-Thurs. 08:30h-15:00h. Most banks have branches in cities and towns throughout the Kingdom.

Language and Culture

Arabic is the official language spoken in Jordan, and you might be amazed but it's also written from right to left with it's own special letters (which look nice if you are an art fan). The second language in Jordan is English and it's widely spoken by the community, where you might enter a small local supermarket and find it's workers communicating with you enough for you to manage your stuff. Arabic is a fun language to pronounce and practice, and with the diversity in the Jordanian community between many Arabic accents you will find it easy to speak in a broken accent and get the people to understand you, and it's a great way to break the ice. Although the real Arabic numbers are the ones you read in English, the numeric system in Jordan is originally Indian, and it's written from left to right as the English language.